Boost on a nickel

[icecycle66]

Yeah, someone else did this joke with a dollar or fifty cent piece, but this thing terrifies me.
Its the LPB1 boost SMD board from Chromesphere.

[billstein]

I ordered that board and when it came it was so small I didn't know what it was. Took me a minute to finally get that it must be the SMD board from Chromesphere. you get no concept of how small it actually is from his website.

Still haven't had the nerve to start on it. Scariest thing I've ever seen.

[icecycle66]

I bought two, because I know I will destroy the first one.

[GermanCdn]

I too am completely terrified by the one i ordered.

[ch1naski]

I've got opamps that are bigger than that PCB....
Great googly moogly.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[chromesphere]

Sorry to hear you guys arent enjoying your first foray into smd 

When i first had that board fabricated i remember i got a piece of paper and outlined how big it was to see what size to expect.  Even in diptrace, you dont get an appreciation for how small these are. 

I honestly thought i would have no chance putting it together without some sort of visual aid.  I was amazed when on first attempt, it worked!  I've built 3 and they all work. I'd almost go as far as saying, smd is MORE FORGIVING then throughhole.  for me personally, it seems harder to solder bridge.  But you have other challenges though (tombstoning and moving components being one of them).

Paul

[alanp]

Do they call coins nickels in America? I've heard collections of coins called shrapnel before, or rats and mice.

That explains Nickelback... I was always confused at why a band would name themselves after nickle-cadmiun NiCad batteries, I wouldn't pick a name translating to Halfbattery-back, I'd pick something like Steelspine.

As for the SMD -- it scares me. I've got a self-designed half-smd muff (that was badly designed for a kick-off), and it doesn't really work. My iron is probably too big and too powerful for it (40W non-fine-pencil tip), but it works perfectly for TH, so I'm holding off on any more SMD until I get to the point I need a magnifying visor

Either that or taking Seeed up on their new service of populating boards at 5c/pad

[chromesphere]

This video might give you an idea of the size (for those that havent seen one).  skip to about half way.  This was version 1 of the board with the errors, (new boards dont have those errors):

Paul

[stevie1556]

I agree that the boards are tiny! Soldered mine up the other day, haven't put all the offboard stuff on it yet though. Didn't mind doing soldering on it though.

I'm thinking about getting a hot air soldering gun, and trying again. From videos on youtube it looks extremely easy, and you should be able to get more complicated builds onto tiny boards and into the 1590A really easily.

Sent from my thumbs using Tapatalk!

[culturejam]

Do they call coins nickels in America?

The American 5-cent piece is called a nickel. It's 25% nickel / 75% copper.

More info, for the curious:
http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_specifications

[ch1naski]

This video might give you an idea of the size (for those that havent seen one).  skip to about half way.  This was version 1 of the board with the errors, (new boards dont have those errors):

Paul

is that.... A Tictac mint?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[cooder]

I was also a bit apprehensive seeing the tiny boards when I got them, but I found it a great learning experience and actually not as bad as anticipated. I got two of them also thinking I might completly obliterate the first at least, but they worked both great straight away!
Give it a go I'd say!
Great circuit to put into a tight space in an existing stompbox/circuit as additional boost or so too, so will certainly find a great use somewhere for me.
Big thumbs up for Paul to put this as a learning challenge out there!

[icecycle66]

I too appreciate the availability of Paul's SMD boards. 
It's just quite shocking at first.

[cooder]

Yeah... it really helped me to use a flux pen (pickdropper recommended that on here, can only totally agree), applying some first onto pad and component, holding component in place with a toothpick and let solder from iron tip flow onto joint. Worked good for me.
Really slightly different approach than through hole.

[billstein]

Sorry to hear you guys arent enjoying your first foray into smd 

Don't feel bad. You putting together these practice boards is so helpful. It's just shocking when you first see it. Eventually we'll all overcome our fears, put on our big boy soldering pants and get it done.